Men's Basketball Drops OT Battle to Nichols College 114-105

DUDLEY, Mass. (January 19, 2022) – The Western New England University men's basketball team took one of the top teams in the CCC to overtime as the Nichols College Bison were able to knock off the Golden Bears in the extra frame by a score of 20-11, defeating WNE by a final score of 114-105 on Wednesday night. 

Records:

• Western New England: 5-8 (3-4 CCC)
• Nichols College: 12-2 (5-2 CCC) 

How it Happened: 

Both the Golden Bears and Bison fought in the head-to-head battle, as Nichols would splash in the first points of the game, though the back and forth first half saw multiple leads changes within the first two minutes as Alex Sikorski and Tim Restall were able cash in a three-point shot each to give WNE a 6-4 lead just two minutes into the contest. The Golden Bears would go up by as many as five in the first two and a half minutes of the contest when Sikorski dialed up his second three of the half. Nichols would make a short 4-0 run after Tahmeen Dupree would convert on a layup and free throw on the same play, followed by a Matt Morrow layup to cut the Golden Bears lead. Brian Geitner would get the Golden Bears rolling again, converting on the next four points for WNE. After a made jumper from Geitner, WNE would see the Bison go on a 9-0 run to put WNE in a six-point hole. 

The Golden Bears would retaliate in the half as Kenny Flynn would knock down a three-point basket with 9:08 to play in the half to tie the game at 23. The two teams would exchange baskets until WNE would retake the lead for the first time since the early minutes of the game off a jumper from Geitner putting Western New England up 28-26. WNE would extend their lead to as many as five as the half would wind down, though Nichols College would fight back in the late stages, going on a 12-0 run to end the half. In the half, Nichols shot a remarkable 61.3% from the field, which includes no three-point baskets, while WNE converted on over a third of their three-point shots, knocking down 8/21 in the half. WNE would crush Nichols in the first half on the offensive glass, though on the defensive end, Nichols would see the best of the chances, grabbing 20/31 defensive rebounds. Western New England and Nichols led by as many as right in the half, with Nichols taking a 49-44 lead heading into the second frame. 

No points would be scored in the first minute and a half to begin the second half of play, though Nichols would extend their lead by grabbing the first layup of the half at the 18:33 mark. Brian Berritto would cash in from distance for WNE to get the Golden Bears rolling in the half. Tahmeen Dupree would convert from distance for Nichols to give the Bison their first double digit lead of the contest at ten points four minutes into the half. Western New England would make a good effort to cut down the Nichols College lead by going on a 9-0 run sparked by Berritto who made layup along with a foul, followed by a three-point shot to cut Nichols lead to just three points with 13 minutes to play. 

Nichols College had the advantage at the midway point of the contest, forcing the Golden Bears to make a run late in the game if they want to upset the Bison on their homecourt. WNE saw themselves down by 13 points with 6:56 left, though they did not lose their competitive edge storming back late in the contest. Sikorski, Jake Harrison, Restall, and Geitner would all play factors in scoring baskets for WNE to get the Golden Bears within four with 3:36 to play. A Restall made three throw would eventually tie the game with 2:45 to play in the game, with Sikorski knocking down a three from distance a play before that. WNE would take their first lead of the half, storming all the way back from their 13-point deficit with a made Sikorski layup to put WNE ahead 92-90. Both teams would go back and forth as Kenny Flynn would convert on the offensive end with 11 seconds with play, though Nichols would convert two free throws with four seconds left in the game to send the game into overtime.

The Bison would expload on their home floor in the overtime session, knocking down the first seven points of the OT session with Matthew Alectus knocking down a big corner three with 1:54 to play in OT to give Nichols the seven-point lead. Western New England would convert just three field goals in the overtime frame, while Nichols cashed in on 5/7 to take the 114-105 victory over Western New England. 

Inside the Arc:

• Western New England shot 40% from the field on Wednesday night, converting 18 three-points shots, though it was not enough to get by the Bison, who shot 54% from the field, while knocking down six three-point shots. 
• Alex Sikorski led the Golden Bears with 26 points on the night, while also collecting four rebounds and three assists. Tim Restall put together his fourth straight double-double and fifth this season after collecting 11 points and 13 rebounds. 
• Kenny Flynn knocked down 6-12 field goals on the night as well as collecting 11 rebounds for his third double-double on the year. 
• Nichols was led by Jakigh Dottin, who scored 37 points for the Bison in the win. Teammate Tahmeen Dupree collected 25 points in the contest. 
• The Bison put together 40 bench points, 37 of those from Dottin, and had seven blocks in the contest while WNE got 27 points of production off the bench and registered three blocks on the night. 
• Nichols College collected 64 points in the paint, while WNE managed just 28. All five starters for WNE scored at least ten points in the contest. 

Up Next on the Schedule: 

• WNE returns to home on Saturday, January 22 at 3:00 pm when they host the Suffolk University Rams in CCC play. Be advised, the Golden Bears have reduced capacity to 25% and only registered guests will be invited inside the Alumni Healthful Living Center for all remaining home games this season. 
• Nichols College travel to UNE in CCC play on the same date.